Index slip holder



April 23, 1935. c. GOLDSTEIN INDEX SLIP HOLDER.

Filed March 7, 1954 Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNlTED STATES g A i A H1,998,503

INDEX SLIP HOLDER p v Charles Goldstein, Chicago, Ill. Application March7, .1934, Serial No. 714,416

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in index slip holders having ageneral application in the field of filing devices, and moreparticularly for attachment to themargins of division cards or sheetsused for separating or classifying the contents of a file, in order topermit the ready removal of the indicator or index slip for the purposeof entering notations or making changes in the notations on the slip.

A particular application of the holder is in connecticn with a so-calleddesk portfolio frequently termed a Work organizer, consisting of a flatbook-like file having several bound sheets increasing in length-from topto bottom and serving to separate the contents under several headings.The holders for the index slips are attached to the exposed lowermarginal portions of each sheet so that their indicator slips arearranged in a vertical row at the lower edge of the portfolio. Theseholders may also be used in so-called vertical filing systems andattached to guide cards in place of or in addition to the integral indextabs with which they are ordinarily provided, and being self-containedunits can be placed wherever desired, thus increasing the flexibility ofthe system.

The novelty of the holder, however, resides in its construction as aunit apart from its application, and two of its preferred forms havebeen illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawing, in which Figure lis a perspective view of a portfolio showing several of the holdersattached to the dividing sheets thereof.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a single holder.

Figure 3 is a View in cross section of the mounted holder as taken online 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a modified but equally practical formof holder, and

Figure 5 is a View in cross section as taken on line 55 of Figure 4.

Theportfolio or file illustrated in Figure 1 consists of stifi back andfront covers I and 2, with several sheets 3 bound between them, thelower edge 3 of each sheet not only projecting a short distance beyondthe sheet above as heretofore explained, but are reinforced andstiifened with the same binding material used in the covers. The indexslip holders 4 are attached to the edges 3 of the sheets, one above theother, so that the index slips held thereby are visible when the file isclosed.

The holders of the form shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 are constructed sothat they can be easily attached to the edges of the sheets by hand,that is, by merely crimping one partially bent edge of the metal backingplate over theedge of the sheet, thus eliminating the need forespecially designed punches for the purpose.

Thus as shown in Figure 2, the backing plate 5v referred to is a stripof thin'metal, say, two inches in length and one inch in width, havingone longitudinal margin bent in U-shape as at 5 along the attachingedge. The other edge is also bent and doubled over, but in theopposite'direction, 10 and within this marginal fold are anchored thefree edges of a sheet of transparent sheet material such as celluloidwhich previously is folded double into a fiat tubular strip 6, themeeting edges inserted into' the fold which is then mashed down 'flat asshown at 5. This tubular strip 6 of celluloid extends the length of thebacking plate 5 and from the upper to the lower edges thereof, with itsfree edge in line with the U- shaped turned edge 5* of the plate. Toattach the holder thus completed, it is only necessary to slip or hookthe U-shaped edge over the edge of the sheet to which it is to beapplied, and by squeezing or mashing it flat a secure attachment ismade.

The tubular celluloid strip 6 manifestly provides an open-ended sheathor pocket for the index slip 1 in the form of a strip of fairly stifipaper somewhat narrower than the pocket, so that it can slide readilyinto and from the same without binding, and yet be held in place. Thewalls of the sheath are practically fiat under ordinary conditions,although by pressing against its free edge the walls will bulge apart sothat the slip can be readily inserted or removed. Moreover, the sheathcan be bent bodily away from the backing plate during the act ofinserting or removing the slip, thus making the latter more accessibleand easily manipulated. V

The form of holder shown in Figures 4 and 5 is quite as satisfactoryexcept that it costs a little more to manufacture and apply. In thisform much of the plate is eliminated, the only metal part being thenarrow strip 8 of double thickness in which the free edges of the flatlyfolded celluloid sheath 9 are secured. This strip is foldedlongitudinally and flattened with the edges of the celluloid clampedbetween the folded portions,- and projecting from the ends of one of thefolded sections of the strip are short pointed prongs 8 8 initially bentat right angles thereto.

To apply this form of holder to the edge'of a sheet or card, it wouldordinarily require the use of a special punch which would force theprongs 55 through and bend them in flatwise against the back of thesheet in one operation. Similarly, in making this type of folder,special dies are required for stamping out the strips, bending theprongs and assembling the celluloid sheaths, whereas in the first formdisclosed the making involves only simple bending and mashing operationswhich can be carried out with the use of hand tools or inexpensive formsapplied to a standard punch press.

For simplicity of manufacture and application, the first form has itsadvantages, although in other respects the prong-attached type may bepreferred in that it is lighter andneater in appearance and can beattached without regard to the distance of the point of attachment fromthe edge of the sheet or card, Thus for example, the prong-attachedholder can be placed so that the sheath projects beyond the edge of thesheet or card to which it is attached, and thus becomes a tab, whereasthe crimped edge applied type of Figure 2 is confined to one position ofattachment, although it is apparent that the width of the plate could bevaried to locate the attaching edge at different distances from theanchored edge of the sheath if desired.

And in this connection I am aware that celluloid tabs with removableindex slip-holding pockets have been applied to guide cards for use invertical filing systems, but in these instances the tab is an integralpart of the card, whereas the holders herein disclosed are completeunits which may be applied whenever and wherever needed, and, therefore,have the advantage of a general utility aside from the simplicity ofconstruction, convenience in manipulation and accessibility of the indexslip for removal from or insertion into the transparent sheath.

Having set forth a preferred embodiment of my invention, but without anyintention of limiting its application to any specific field,

I claim as my invention:

1. An index slip holder comprising a flat tubular sheath of atransparent sheet material having open ends to receive an index slip,and a metal strip having a portion folded double and clamped along oneof the longitudinal edges of the sheath and another portion forattaching the same to a sheet or card.

2. index slip holder comprising a metal strip adapted for attachmentalong one edge to a sheet or card, and an index slip-receiving pocketconsisting of a sheet of transparent material folded double intoflattened tubular form and its meeting edges clamped between afolded-over marginal portion at the opposite edge of said strip.

3. An index slip holder comprising a metal plate having one of itslongitudinal edges bent in U shape to provide a clip to engage the edgeof a sheet or card, and a slip-receiving sheath consisting of a sheet oftransparent material folded double into flattubular form and its meetingedges secured along the opposite edge of said plate.

4. An index slip holder comprising a metal plate having one of itslongitudinal edges bent in U-shape to provide a clip to be fastened tothe edge of 'a sheet or card, and a slip-receiving sheath consisting ofa sheet of transparent material folded double into flat tubular form andits meeting edges clamped between a folded-over marginal portion of theplate at its opposite edge.

. CHARLES GOLDSTEIN.

